What is the networking term that describes the total time it takes a data packet to travel from one node to another?

Latency is the term that refers to the total time it takes for a data packet to travel from one node to another in a network. This measurement encompasses the delay introduced at various points along the path, including the time it takes for the packet to be processed by both the sending and receiving devices. Latency is typically measured in milliseconds and is crucial in understanding the performance of a network, especially in real-time communications where fast transmission is essential.

Throughput refers to the amount of data successfully transmitted over a network in a given period and does not directly measure the time taken for a single packet to travel.

Jitter describes the variability in the time it takes for packets to be transmitted, which can be important for applications like VoIP or online gaming where consistent timing is crucial. It is not a measure of the total travel time of a packet but rather the inconsistencies in that timing.

Bandwidth represents the maximum rate of data transfer across a network connection, indicating the capacity of the data transmission, rather than the time aspect associated with latency. Understanding these distinctions is fundamental for grasping networking concepts effectively.